29 Jan 2007

New Caledonia bus company strike resolved after four months

7:23 pm on 29 January 2007

An on-and-off CSTNC union strike in New Caledonia involving a bus company seems to have come to an end after a new agreement was signed last Friday.

The union went on strike about four months ago after about a dozen Car Sud bus company drivers got sacked for not issuing tickets to passengers.

A CSTNC union representative, Pierre Chauvat, says the two parties have now reached an agreement.

"Friday night we came to a total agreement. All sacked people are back in except for two people that have been noticed both by the union and by the management for stealing."

Mr Chauvat says money matters will no longer be hadled by bus drivers and passengers will have to buy their tickets at special outlets.

Car Sud has meanwhile announced it will invest about ten million US dollars into new equipment and will create new jobs in March.